@ComfyAko That would've been the case for some Nintendo developers in Japan, but in this case, the countryside would've probably looked mpre like a misty set of low lying hills and patchy woodlands amongst very green grass and gray stone walls, as is typical of a rural Welsh landscape, which is where I believe Rare was located (or somewhere near to it).
The first I heard of it, but that's kind of cool, actually. I'd never really thought much about it tbh, but for some reason, it feels good to know now anyway 😂
@Ultimapunch I was unironically excited for a few seconds until I realized it was a lie. I'd absolutely buy Philips Zelda/Mario remasters for Switch. It would be a day one purchase, if only for the lulz.
King Rhoam: "Mah boi. This dinner is what all true warriors strive for. Zelda, get back in the kitchen "
Link: "Oh boi - I'm so hungry, I could eat her..."
Weegi: "I hope she makes lots of spaghetti!"
As a lifelong fan of the series ehose 3DS broke a few years ago, I'll buy it regardless, if only to play the game again - especially 3 - but the price point IS ridiculous. It astounds me that digital games still cost the same as physical copies, considering that there's literally no additional production fees to take into consideration.
@Cia I thought XC3's ending was by far the worst ending of any of the three main series entries and did a profound disservice to the fans and the Xeno brand in the process - something that I sincerely hope the 4th wave Story Expansion rectifies. But, I'm glad you thought the ending wad "perfect". To each their own, I suppose!
This is becoming a nightmare. Every day or two, it seems like there's a new article about the Saudis increasing their stake in the company. When will the madness end? Hopefully before this state fundamentally changes what Nintendo is.
I remember getting a few SNES and N64 games for $70 back in the mid 90s. Adjusted for inflation, that was way more expensive than TotK's MSRP. Of course, that was my Dad's problem, since I was too young for a job 🤣
I love it! Please let this mean a new game is possible! Etrian Odyssey 6 - so you're saying there's a chance!?
Also, EO3 finally getting the remake treatment makes me incredibly excited. It was the best one of the three DS entries, so it saddened me when it was the only one that failed to come to the 3DS.
FF6 would be great, although I would be afraid that it would never get the 3D treatment it deserves if it goes the HD2D route. Chrono Trigger would be perfect tho.
The Switch Version looks largely better, imho. I figured it would look extremely subpar compared to the Xbox version, so...color me legitimately surprised.
I would absolutely love a port of Murumasa. It was lowkey one of my favorite games on Wii. From its traditionalist music to gorgeous painterly graphics, the medieval Japanese folk love that saturates everything in that game visuals just beyond breathtaking. It feels almost like an interactive piece of art. And that's not even getting into how fun the game plays.
Path of Radiance, by a long shot. I almost wish I never played that game because it only serves to highlight just how far downhill the main storylines have fallen since then. Don't get me wrong, I still love the FE series and the storylines are generally fine, but the GCN iteration was a step above both in narrative and in the quality of dialogue.
If they fix the font and make it look much closer to the fonts they used in the 8 and 16 bit originals, I might actually buy the collection.
I know it probably seems shallow that I wouldn't buy a game solely because I hate the font...but, the font they used on other versions is just hideous and an absolute eye sore so...sorry, not sorry. Here's to hoping they fix it!
Since I saw that the devs are making a sequel to the game, I decided to take a look at the original, as I'd never even heard of the game before - and wow - this game seems like an absolute gem. Between the 10/10 review and the nearly universal praise in the comments section, I'm sold. I can't wait to see what all of the hype is about!
As an unrelated aside, I feel like I need to address something I'd read regarding @monterxz 's response to @durr 's remark about there being "no black greek gods":
While I agree that durr's comment sounded pretty racist, your suggestion that he should "go back to school" came across as unintentionally ironic, given the fact that there were no black Roman or Greek rulers or emperors - or at least none that were ever recoded. Yes, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus (if that was who you were referring to) was born in Africa, there is no evidence that he was black. What few descriptions of his appearance there are simply state that he had a tan appearance at best.
Maybe you ought to consider returning to school yourself?
I love it. The city below the castle is so lively and vibrant. It's imaginative, while at the same time staying true to so many of the world building gameplay elements featured in the video games.
Mario's voice remains very lowkey - probably to a fault for most of the fan base - but I think it works, particularly for an original type of story. I can't imagine Mario running a Brooklyn Plumbing business while sounding like a flamboyant, high pitched Italian stereotype - but maybe that's just me.
The music was also fun and pretty clever! As a lifelong musician, it's really fun to hone in on the elements of composition, and I can tell that this film's score is going to have an incredible amount depth! It was a joy to hear a subtly orchestrated remix of the original Super Mario Bros level 1-1 weaving into the theme from Mario 64's 'Bob-omb Battlefield'. They way they did it was awesome and definitely clever af. If I were to nitpick, I might have knocked it for being a little busy with its instrumentation - but, seeing as how a huge, bustling city was the backdrop for this particular scene, I'm sure that the busy-ness was intended. It's definitely really fun either way!
Illumination has clearly put so much effort into capturing the Mario-feel - the little details of this are everywhere. It's basically the polar opposite of the 1993 live action movie. I can't wait to see more!
@Slinkoy1 This might be a hugely unpopular opinion, but I think that Charlie Day as Luigi is slightly miscast (and I say this a huge fan of Charlie Day). I just found his voice far more out of place than Pratt's.
Luigi just sounds like Charlie Day. I'm not saying that Pratt is exactly reinventing himself as Mario or anything, but his voice still seems to fit with Mario appearance better than Day's does with Luigi. Peach sounds dope, tho.
I love all of the layers of Easter eggs and just so many little details that longtime Nintendo fans will pick up on and love. The amount of care and attention to detail that Illumination put into this is honestly staggering.
A Donkey Long movie would also be pretty Ace. It almost seems like they're setting up a spin off - and I'm all for it.
I really, really, really loved all of the powerups, and little touches like the donut blocks, rainbow road, and the lime. I'm not sure if I'm keen yet on Luigi's voice, but I'm sure I'll get used to it quickly. Overall, I'm pretty excited for it. The people at Illimination are certainly doing their best to crank the Nintendo feel to 11.
I actually really like Peach's design - it's a fresh take while also decidedly faithful, and struck a fine balance between the two. Might be an unpopular opinion, but she just looks very cute imho.
I also love that they start out as Brooklyn plumbers. Clearly an homage to the very first, original Mario game, and the cartoon series that I grew up with.
My favorite games in the series are the one on GCN (which, imho, was the best written of the bunch), and Three Houses. The one on Wii was decent. Awakening and the games in that timeline/era were kind of a big letdown for me, as the stories were weak, the writing questionable, and the mechanics largely interchangeable.
While the school setting eventually got a bit tedious towards the end game, I still found Three Houses' strategy RPG / life sim vibe to be a breath of fresh air, and thus, appreciated the big shake up to the series' formula as a whole.
I'm kind of wary about thus game's "return to roots" feel about it, but if the story/plot is solid, and they finally address class balancing (which is pretty bad in many FE games, especially in Three Houses), then I would certainly be on board. And honestly, the art style doesn't bother me, either.
@Mjoen Yeah, if I'm remembering correctly (which I might not be), I'm pretty sure NES games on Wii were like $5 a pop, and never went on sale. Whatever the price for NES games was, I kind of recall that even back then, the price for NES games in particular were widely considered to be bit on the high side.
So why won't Nintendo release their Nintendo games individually? Their existence in this collection clearly demonstrates that they're OK with selling content outside of their subscription service. And yet, the only way to legally own their NES games is through an overpriced Hampster collection.
This game looks better than games in the Rune Factory series, but from what I've seen, played and read of the game so far, it seems to lack much of the genuine charm and humor that make otherwise visually unimpressive game like Rune Factorys 4, 5 (and any of the other non-Switch games in the series) so appealing. Not to mention, in most RF games, the crop mechanics can actually get pretty deep - if you want them to be. Although one can get by perfectly fine with just the basics, if the player should ever want to go all in on maximizing crops / increasing profitability crops, the option of closely monitoring things like soil quality, yield, size, number is there.
And while I won't knock Harvestella for their amnesiac MC premise - after all, all RF games feature an amnesiac MC - at least with the RF series, the developers always seem to approach it in a very tongue-in-cheek sort of way. They're always fully aware of just how absurd and cliche the premise is, to the point where some of the humor in the early segments of the games will often play off of it.
And while Harvestella could have had a possible advantage insofar as allowing players being to create their own characters' designs (as opposed to it being a forced and predetermined character ala RF), it seems very poorly implemented (imo). For example, all of the Harvestella character modeling options are incredibly simple, limited in choice, and androgynous and/or effeminate, to the point where you wondered why the developers even bothered with adding a choice to begin with.
Even still - as someone who is, at the end of the day, a sucker for farm sims - and especially farm sim RPG hybrids - I might give the game a full purchase down the road when it goes on sale - but definitely not right now.
@earbox I think a fleshed out Skill Tree would definitely might scratch the RPG itch, for sure. I'm guessing with the action games like Astral Chain, you don't have to grind a lot to open up the tree? Is there an XP system, or is the acquisition of skills mostly tied to things like story progression, exploration, etc?
Is it weird that in my 35 years of gaming, I've never played a modern (non-platforming) 3D action game?
Being a huge fan of RPGs, I've always been on unsure about whether or not I should take a dip. The most I've gotten into the genre is through action-RPGs, but even with those games, there's usually at some enphasis put upon stat-driven progression - something which I worry that a purely action type of game will be missing, to a fault. Plus, the best action games tend to be glitzy and high budget, and thus - unless you can jump in during some kind of major sale - are usually kind of an expensive proposition, with a high price of entry.
TL:DR - As a fan of RPGs who's never played a pure action game, are there any high quality, critically acclaimed action games that still have (small-but-nevertheless-notable) RPG-like aspects that might be appealing to someone like me? Would be curious what the good folks here in comments section might recommend.
Meh. This game is like that really crazy hot super model who has the personality of an old shoe - you would definitely want to sleep with for a few nights, but that's about all, whereas with Rune Factory - while not nearly as sexy - is a lot deeper and generally more fun to be around, and is the sort of person who's very charming and can make you laugh - the best friend who you might fall for, and may even consider settling down with for the long haul.
In other words, from what I've seen and played thus far, Harvestella is the epitome of style over substance.
One of the worst, best boring adaptations of a video game / book that I've ever had the misfortune was watching. I don't see a new lead actor changing that
I'd be surprised if the next Mario entry doesn't takes cues from the Mario Movie. It wouldn't have to be a rewrite of the film's plot or anything - it might not even be a direct sequel - but I'd be willing to bet that at least some of the movie's locations, side characters, enemy designs and other movie-specific world building elements (such as the Penguin Kingdom seen at the start of the trailer, or the huge field of mushrooms and flowers with the Mushroom Kingdom itself in the horizon).
While I'm not necessarily saying I would personally want them to do it (if it turns out great, then I'm on board), I think Nintendo would almost be foolish NOT to base at least some of their next Mario game on the movie - especially if the film hits a home run at the box office.
And besides, doing so would probably make it the first video game that was based off of a movie that was based off of a video game. Historic stuff!
The frame rate issues have just been patched. I went to Riften - which was the only area where the frame rate dropped precipitously- and it runs completely normally now.
This totally reminds me of a mixture of a couple of really great European board games that I played a lot back in the day.
Namely, 'Carcassonne', whose chief gameplay loop revolves around building and developing the towns and villages around the titular city by way of laying down randomly drawn tiles, with points awarded for the construction of various things, such as rivers, towns, farms, and churches.
And, of course, that game, too, is exceptionally simplistic and a simple pick up and play - and while there can be some real strategy involved (eapecially in games with 3 or more players), nothing feels particularly high stakes. Unlike that game, however, 'Dorfromantik' seems to have traded in 'Carcassonne's' simpler 4-sided square tiles for (in my option), a more strategically interesting variety of hexagons. Of course, these 6-sided tiles give off a strong "Settlers of Catan" vibe - which is definitely not a bad thing, seeing as how it's one of my favorite board games of all time.
But, yeah - even if it is simple, I think I might get it. Finding a chill, relaxed strategy-lite type of game can be a difficult as it is. Finding one that takes and expands upon the simple but addictive nature of 'Carcassonne' (except with a 'The Settlers of Catan' aesthetic) - well, it pretty much never happens. Until now.
Do we have any hard evidence that her claim is true? I'm not saying that it's not true, but I also don't think it's wise to always just take random people at their word when, in reality, there might be multiple other reasons for her departure that have nothing to do with her amount of pay. It could be that she's presenting that one because it would be the one that's most publicly palatable and/or the one that would be the most difficult to disprove.
Odds are, she's telling the truth, but I don't like this trend towards bypassing due process and jumping straight to an automatic, evidence free guilty verdict.
The ending was horrible and a slap to the face of fans who have followed the series from its very start. The ending would have been fine if it wasn't billed as the end of the Kalus trilogy. In other words, if there was game to be set within the world's of Alrest and Antonios, then I would have had no problem with it, since the dissatisfied conclusion - which essentially rendered the efforts and sacrifices of the series' prior heroes somewhat pointless.
Furthermore, Antonios itself is more or less an illusion. But worst of all is the fate of everyone on the "planet" is unclear. It is suggested that everyone dies but not everyone returns - which, would include a large group of people that happen to live in a large and important populated area. Best case scenario is that most people are reincarnated with minimal to no memories of their previous lives - which, for those with no memories - is essentially death with no afterlife. This also has the effect of making all of the quests feel somewhat pointless, and in some cases, like a lie.
For instance, there's a quest to marry a couple in what is essentially a take on Romeo and Juliet, but with a happier outcome. However, even though it is happier, the girl's father still essentially disowns her. If you talk to her in the post game, she says that she can't wait to raise a family and to mend things with her dad. To which the heroes essentially say, "We hope there will be a good outcome..." despite knowing full well that they're going to be annihilated long before either of those things even happen. There are multiple instances where I felt like I was just leading people on and while I can on some level appreciate the idea of making people feel good while they're here, keeping them in the dark about what happens when Z is killed still feels incredibly deceptive.
The message is basically ignorance is bliss! Maybe it is, but it's not usually a disposition that most people would describe as positive. The game's conservative faction actual knows what their fate will be but we're supposed to look down on their desire for self preservation, but it seemed understandable to me.
All of this would, on its own, be unsatisfying, but when you add in the fact that - after 100 hours of seeing your party grow and become close friends - your reward is seeing them separated made it all feel even worse. Will they meet again? Maybe. The two cameos of heroes from the previous games likewise seem more or less shoehorned into it, as though to force some kind of connection beyond the amalgam of cosmetic similarities.
Don't get me wrong, I like 85% of the game. The battles are kinetic and fun, and who doesn't like a class system Chapters? Chapters 5 and 6 contained some of the most genuinely incredible and emotive moments that I've ever seen or felt in a game. It's just sad that the climactic highlight occurs closer to mid-game rather than the end - something made worse by the largely samey, generic villains - some of whom come with plot holes the size of TX.
I hope the Wave 4 story DLC ties up some loose ends because - if it doesn't - then, at least in my opinion, XC3 will probably go down as the worst of the 3, at least in terms of story.
It would be an understatement to say that I'm extraordinarily stoked to finally play one of my favorite N64 games again - and for the first time in close to 25 years. It's going to be like strapping into a flying time machine. Destination: Mid-to-late 1990s. Please remain seated.
@BloodNinja Imagine going to a Nintendo-centric gaming site just to read the articles that aren't related to the Switch, while at the same time commenting on nearly every story related to the Switch.
When Nintendo first announced the Wii virtual console, I specifically remember feeling super stoked to play Pilotwings 64 on it, which was lowkey, one of my favorite games on the N64, but the copy for which I'd somehow lost. I remember telling my cousin, rather excitedly, that I would probably get a Wii, day one, if for no other reason, than to play that game again!
Hahahaha! Haha...! Ha...
17 years later. The world has changed so much. Life got so hard. The Wii U failed. The Virtual Console is no longer even a thing. But, Pilot Wings 64 dream survived. I'm going to be honest - I didn't even listen to the video yet. I'm just basking in the glory of a destiny nearly fulfilled.
Comments 880
Re: Poll: Which Was Your First 'Final Fantasy'?
FFIV [FF2-US] - SNES - Also my first RPG. It absolutely blew my 9 year old mind at the time. Still does, tbh
Re: Random: Ex-Rare Dev Explains The Origin Of Donkey Kong Country's Name
@ComfyAko That would've been the case for some Nintendo developers in Japan, but in this case, the countryside would've probably looked mpre like a misty set of low lying hills and patchy woodlands amongst very green grass and gray stone walls, as is typical of a rural Welsh landscape, which is where I believe Rare was located (or somewhere near to it).
Re: Random: Ex-Rare Dev Explains The Origin Of Donkey Kong Country's Name
The first I heard of it, but that's kind of cool, actually. I'd never really thought much about it tbh, but for some reason, it feels good to know now anyway 😂
Re: Rumour: The Infamous Phillips CD-i Zelda Games Are Being Remastered For Switch
@Ultimapunch I was unironically excited for a few seconds until I realized it was a lie. I'd absolutely buy Philips Zelda/Mario remasters for Switch. It would be a day one purchase, if only for the lulz.
Re: Rumour: The Infamous Phillips CD-i Zelda Games Are Being Remastered For Switch
King Rhoam: "Mah boi. This dinner is what all true warriors strive for. Zelda, get back in the kitchen "
Link: "Oh boi - I'm so hungry, I could eat her..."
Weegi: "I hope she makes lots of spaghetti!"
Re: Sega Explains Why Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection Costs $80
As a lifelong fan of the series ehose 3DS broke a few years ago, I'll buy it regardless, if only to play the game again - especially 3 - but the price point IS ridiculous. It astounds me that digital games still cost the same as physical copies, considering that there's literally no additional production fees to take into consideration.
Re: Saudi Arabia's PIF Is Reportedly Now Nintendo's Biggest Outside Investor
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Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Version 1.3.0 Is Now Available, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
@Cia I thought XC3's ending was by far the worst ending of any of the three main series entries and did a profound disservice to the fans and the Xeno brand in the process - something that I sincerely hope the 4th wave Story Expansion rectifies. But, I'm glad you thought the ending wad "perfect". To each their own, I suppose!
Re: Saudi Arabia's PIF Is Reportedly Now Nintendo's Biggest Outside Investor
This is becoming a nightmare. Every day or two, it seems like there's a new article about the Saudis increasing their stake in the company. When will the madness end? Hopefully before this state fundamentally changes what Nintendo is.
Re: Saudi Arabia's PIF Raises Stake In Nintendo For The Second Time This Year
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Re: Nintendo: $70 USD Won't Be A Trend, Games Priced On "Case-By-Case Basis"
I remember getting a few SNES and N64 games for $70 back in the mid 90s. Adjusted for inflation, that was way more expensive than TotK's MSRP. Of course, that was my Dad's problem, since I was too young for a job 🤣
Re: Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection Brings Original Trio Of DS Titles To Switch In June
YASSSSSSSSSSSS!
I love it! Please let this mean a new game is possible! Etrian Odyssey 6 - so you're saying there's a chance!?
Also, EO3 finally getting the remake treatment makes me incredibly excited. It was the best one of the three DS entries, so it saddened me when it was the only one that failed to come to the 3DS.
Re: Square Enix Survey Asks About Team Asano's Future Games
FF6 would be great, although I would be afraid that it would never get the 3D treatment it deserves if it goes the HD2D route. Chrono Trigger would be perfect tho.
Re: Video: GoldenEye 007 Side-By-Side Graphics Comparison (Switch & Xbox)
The Switch Version looks largely better, imho. I figured it would look extremely subpar compared to the Xbox version, so...color me legitimately surprised.
Re: Vanillaware President Really Wants A 'Muramasa' Port But Admits "There Are Problems"
I would absolutely love a port of Murumasa. It was lowkey one of my favorite games on Wii. From its traditionalist music to gorgeous painterly graphics, the medieval Japanese folk love that saturates everything in that game visuals just beyond breathtaking. It feels almost like an interactive piece of art. And that's not even getting into how fun the game plays.
Re: Gallery: Fire Emblem Engage Main Character Designer Shares Stunning Artwork Of Heroes
Not sure why people hate the style - it looks pretty good to me (aside from low-T Col. Sanders, anyway).
Re: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Raises Stake In Nintendo To 6%
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Re: Feature: Fire Emblem Narratives, Ranked – Which Fire Emblem Has The Best Story?
Path of Radiance, by a long shot. I almost wish I never played that game because it only serves to highlight just how far downhill the main storylines have fallen since then. Don't get me wrong, I still love the FE series and the storylines are generally fine, but the GCN iteration was a step above both in narrative and in the quality of dialogue.
Re: Atlus Is Preparing Several New Game Announcements For 2023
New ETRIAN ODYSSEY plz & thank you.
Re: Nintendo Minute Videos Are Being Set To Private On Nintendo's YouTube Channel
Nintendo Week >>> Nintendo Minute
Gary&Alison were so much more genuinely entertaining and original. And it wasn't even close tbh.
Re: Talking Point: What's The Deal With The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Switch Release?
If they fix the font and make it look much closer to the fonts they used in the 8 and 16 bit originals, I might actually buy the collection.
I know it probably seems shallow that I wouldn't buy a game solely because I hate the font...but, the font they used on other versions is just hideous and an absolute eye sore so...sorry, not sorry. Here's to hoping they fix it!
Re: Review: Hades - A Heavenly Trip Into Hell That's Utterly Essential For All Switch Owners
Since I saw that the devs are making a sequel to the game, I decided to take a look at the original, as I'd never even heard of the game before - and wow - this game seems like an absolute gem. Between the 10/10 review and the nearly universal praise in the comments section, I'm sold. I can't wait to see what all of the hype is about!
As an unrelated aside, I feel like I need to address something I'd read regarding @monterxz 's response to @durr 's remark about there being "no black greek gods":
While I agree that durr's comment sounded pretty racist, your suggestion that he should "go back to school" came across as unintentionally ironic, given the fact that there were no black Roman or Greek rulers or emperors - or at least none that were ever recoded. Yes, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus (if that was who you were referring to) was born in Africa, there is no evidence that he was black. What few descriptions of his appearance there are simply state that he had a tan appearance at best.
Maybe you ought to consider returning to school yourself?
Re: Review: Dragon Quest Treasures - A Trove Of JRPG Goodness, Perfect For Beginners
This sounds like the 2022 DQ equivalent of 'Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest'.
Re: Video: Super Mario Bros. Movie "Mushroom Kingdom" Official Reveal
I love it. The city below the castle is so lively and vibrant. It's imaginative, while at the same time staying true to so many of the world building gameplay elements featured in the video games.
Mario's voice remains very lowkey - probably to a fault for most of the fan base - but I think it works, particularly for an original type of story. I can't imagine Mario running a Brooklyn Plumbing business while sounding like a flamboyant, high pitched Italian stereotype - but maybe that's just me.
The music was also fun and pretty clever! As a lifelong musician, it's really fun to hone in on the elements of composition, and I can tell that this film's score is going to have an incredible amount depth! It was a joy to hear a subtly orchestrated remix of the original Super Mario Bros level 1-1 weaving into the theme from Mario 64's 'Bob-omb Battlefield'. They way they did it was awesome and definitely clever af. If I were to nitpick, I might have knocked it for being a little busy with its instrumentation - but, seeing as how a huge, bustling city was the backdrop for this particular scene, I'm sure that the busy-ness was intended. It's definitely really fun either way!
Illumination has clearly put so much effort into capturing the Mario-feel - the little details of this are everywhere. It's basically the polar opposite of the 1993 live action movie. I can't wait to see more!
Re: Totally New 30-Second Super Mario Movie Trailer Appears Out Of Nowhere
@Slinkoy1 This might be a hugely unpopular opinion, but I think that Charlie Day as Luigi is slightly miscast (and I say this a huge fan of Charlie Day). I just found his voice far more out of place than Pratt's.
Luigi just sounds like Charlie Day. I'm not saying that Pratt is exactly reinventing himself as Mario or anything, but his voice still seems to fit with Mario appearance better than Day's does with Luigi. Peach sounds dope, tho.
Re: Totally New 30-Second Super Mario Movie Trailer Appears Out Of Nowhere
Noooo. I missed it and can't find it anywhere. Sadness.
Re: Random: More Kong Cameos Spotted In The Super Mario Bros. Movie
I love all of the layers of Easter eggs and just so many little details that longtime Nintendo fans will pick up on and love. The amount of care and attention to detail that Illumination put into this is honestly staggering.
A Donkey Long movie would also be pretty Ace. It almost seems like they're setting up a spin off - and I'm all for it.
Re: Princess Peach And Donkey Kong Debut In New Super Mario Bros Movie Trailer
I really, really, really loved all of the powerups, and little touches like the donut blocks, rainbow road, and the lime. I'm not sure if I'm keen yet on Luigi's voice, but I'm sure I'll get used to it quickly. Overall, I'm pretty excited for it. The people at Illimination are certainly doing their best to crank the Nintendo feel to 11.
Re: Mario Movie Posters Appear To Have Leaked Online, First Look At Peach & More
I actually really like Peach's design - it's a fresh take while also decidedly faithful, and struck a fine balance between the two. Might be an unpopular opinion, but she just looks very cute imho.
I also love that they start out as Brooklyn plumbers. Clearly an homage to the very first, original Mario game, and the cartoon series that I grew up with.
Re: Video: Here's An Extended Look At Fire Emblem Engage For Nintendo Switch
My favorite games in the series are the one on GCN (which, imho, was the best written of the bunch), and Three Houses. The one on Wii was decent. Awakening and the games in that timeline/era were kind of a big letdown for me, as the stories were weak, the writing questionable, and the mechanics largely interchangeable.
While the school setting eventually got a bit tedious towards the end game, I still found Three Houses' strategy RPG / life sim vibe to be a breath of fresh air, and thus, appreciated the big shake up to the series' formula as a whole.
I'm kind of wary about thus game's "return to roots" feel about it, but if the story/plot is solid, and they finally address class balancing (which is pretty bad in many FE games, especially in Three Houses), then I would certainly be on board. And honestly, the art style doesn't bother me, either.
Re: Arcade Archives Nintendo Collection Goes On Sale For The First Time Ever, 30% Off
@Mjoen Yeah, if I'm remembering correctly (which I might not be), I'm pretty sure NES games on Wii were like $5 a pop, and never went on sale. Whatever the price for NES games was, I kind of recall that even back then, the price for NES games in particular were widely considered to be bit on the high side.
Re: Arcade Archives Nintendo Collection Goes On Sale For The First Time Ever, 30% Off
So why won't Nintendo release their Nintendo games individually? Their existence in this collection clearly demonstrates that they're OK with selling content outside of their subscription service. And yet, the only way to legally own their NES games is through an overpriced Hampster collection.
Re: Site News: Got A Moment? Would You Kindly Fill Out Our Reader Survey?
That was a long and boring slog of a survey, but I did it. Can I get a cookie?
Re: Review: Harvestella - A Promising Genre Hybrid That Needs Some Watering
This game looks better than games in the Rune Factory series, but from what I've seen, played and read of the game so far, it seems to lack much of the genuine charm and humor that make otherwise visually unimpressive game like Rune Factorys 4, 5 (and any of the other non-Switch games in the series) so appealing. Not to mention, in most RF games, the crop mechanics can actually get pretty deep - if you want them to be. Although one can get by perfectly fine with just the basics, if the player should ever want to go all in on maximizing crops / increasing profitability crops, the option of closely monitoring things like soil quality, yield, size, number is there.
And while I won't knock Harvestella for their amnesiac MC premise - after all, all RF games feature an amnesiac MC - at least with the RF series, the developers always seem to approach it in a very tongue-in-cheek sort of way. They're always fully aware of just how absurd and cliche the premise is, to the point where some of the humor in the early segments of the games will often play off of it.
And while Harvestella could have had a possible advantage insofar as allowing players being to create their own characters' designs (as opposed to it being a forced and predetermined character ala RF), it seems very poorly implemented (imo). For example, all of the Harvestella character modeling options are incredibly simple, limited in choice, and androgynous and/or effeminate, to the point where you wondered why the developers even bothered with adding a choice to begin with.
Even still - as someone who is, at the end of the day, a sucker for farm sims - and especially farm sim RPG hybrids - I might give the game a full purchase down the road when it goes on sale - but definitely not right now.
Re: Best Action Games On Nintendo Switch
@earbox I think a fleshed out Skill Tree would definitely might scratch the RPG itch, for sure. I'm guessing with the action games like Astral Chain, you don't have to grind a lot to open up the tree? Is there an XP system, or is the acquisition of skills mostly tied to things like story progression, exploration, etc?
Re: Best Action Games On Nintendo Switch
Is it weird that in my 35 years of gaming, I've never played a modern (non-platforming) 3D action game?
Being a huge fan of RPGs, I've always been on unsure about whether or not I should take a dip. The most I've gotten into the genre is through action-RPGs, but even with those games, there's usually at some enphasis put upon stat-driven progression - something which I worry that a purely action type of game will be missing, to a fault. Plus, the best action games tend to be glitzy and high budget, and thus - unless you can jump in during some kind of major sale - are usually kind of an expensive proposition, with a high price of entry.
TL:DR - As a fan of RPGs who's never played a pure action game, are there any high quality, critically acclaimed action games that still have (small-but-nevertheless-notable) RPG-like aspects that might be appealing to someone like me? Would be curious what the good folks here in comments section might recommend.
Re: The First Review For Square Enix's Farming RPG Harvestella Is Now In
Meh. This game is like that really crazy hot super model who has the personality of an old shoe - you would definitely want to sleep with for a few nights, but that's about all, whereas with Rune Factory - while not nearly as sexy - is a lot deeper and generally more fun to be around, and is the sort of person who's very charming and can make you laugh - the best friend who you might fall for, and may even consider settling down with for the long haul.
In other words, from what I've seen and played thus far, Harvestella is the epitome of style over substance.
Re: Liam Hemsworth To Replace Henry Cavill In Witcher's Netflix Series
One of the worst, best boring adaptations of a video game / book that I've ever had the misfortune was watching. I don't see a new lead actor changing that
Re: Talking Point: Would You Prefer 'Super Mario Odyssey 2' Or A Totally New 3D Mario?
I'd be surprised if the next Mario entry doesn't takes cues from the Mario Movie. It wouldn't have to be a rewrite of the film's plot or anything - it might not even be a direct sequel - but I'd be willing to bet that at least some of the movie's locations, side characters, enemy designs and other movie-specific world building elements (such as the Penguin Kingdom seen at the start of the trailer, or the huge field of mushrooms and flowers with the Mushroom Kingdom itself in the horizon).
While I'm not necessarily saying I would personally want them to do it (if it turns out great, then I'm on board), I think Nintendo would almost be foolish NOT to base at least some of their next Mario game on the movie - especially if the film hits a home run at the box office.
And besides, doing so would probably make it the first video game that was based off of a movie that was based off of a video game. Historic stuff!
Re: Skyrim Anniversary Switch Players Seem To Be Experiencing Performance Issues
The frame rate issues have just been patched. I went to Riften - which was the only area where the frame rate dropped precipitously- and it runs completely normally now.
Re: Mini Review: Dorfromantik - A Perfectly Peaceful Puzzler That Soothes The Soul
This totally reminds me of a mixture of a couple of really great European board games that I played a lot back in the day.
Namely, 'Carcassonne', whose chief gameplay loop revolves around building and developing the towns and villages around the titular city by way of laying down randomly drawn tiles, with points awarded for the construction of various things, such as rivers, towns, farms, and churches.
And, of course, that game, too, is exceptionally simplistic and a simple pick up and play - and while there can be some real strategy involved (eapecially in games with 3 or more players), nothing feels particularly high stakes. Unlike that game, however, 'Dorfromantik' seems to have traded in 'Carcassonne's' simpler 4-sided square tiles for (in my option), a more strategically interesting variety of hexagons. Of course, these 6-sided tiles give off a strong "Settlers of Catan" vibe - which is definitely not a bad thing, seeing as how it's one of my favorite board games of all time.
But, yeah - even if it is simple, I think I might get it. Finding a chill, relaxed strategy-lite type of game can be a difficult as it is. Finding one that takes and expands upon the simple but addictive nature of 'Carcassonne' (except with a 'The Settlers of Catan' aesthetic) - well, it pretty much never happens. Until now.
Viva la Dorfromantik!
Re: Bayonetta's OG Voice Actor Asks Fans To "Boycott" Third Game After PlatinumGames Wage Fallout
Do we have any hard evidence that her claim is true? I'm not saying that it's not true, but I also don't think it's wise to always just take random people at their word when, in reality, there might be multiple other reasons for her departure that have nothing to do with her amount of pay. It could be that she's presenting that one because it would be the one that's most publicly palatable and/or the one that would be the most difficult to disprove.
Odds are, she's telling the truth, but I don't like this trend towards bypassing due process and jumping straight to an automatic, evidence free guilty verdict.
Re: Nintendo Shares "Sneak Peek" At Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future DLC Waves
The ending was horrible and a slap to the face of fans who have followed the series from its very start. The ending would have been fine if it wasn't billed as the end of the Kalus trilogy. In other words, if there was game to be set within the world's of Alrest and Antonios, then I would have had no problem with it, since the dissatisfied conclusion - which essentially rendered the efforts and sacrifices of the series' prior heroes somewhat pointless.
Furthermore, Antonios itself is more or less an illusion. But worst of all is the fate of everyone on the "planet" is unclear. It is suggested that everyone dies but not everyone returns - which, would include a large group of people that happen to live in a large and important populated area. Best case scenario is that most people are reincarnated with minimal to no memories of their previous lives - which, for those with no memories - is essentially death with no afterlife. This also has the effect of making all of the quests feel somewhat pointless, and in some cases, like a lie.
For instance, there's a quest to marry a couple in what is essentially a take on Romeo and Juliet, but with a happier outcome. However, even though it is happier, the girl's father still essentially disowns her. If you talk to her in the post game, she says that she can't wait to raise a family and to mend things with her dad. To which the heroes essentially say, "We hope there will be a good outcome..." despite knowing full well that they're going to be annihilated long before either of those things even happen. There are multiple instances where I felt like I was just leading people on and while I can on some level appreciate the idea of making people feel good while they're here, keeping them in the dark about what happens when Z is killed still feels incredibly deceptive.
The message is basically ignorance is bliss! Maybe it is, but it's not usually a disposition that most people would describe as positive. The game's conservative faction actual knows what their fate will be but we're supposed to look down on their desire for self preservation, but it seemed understandable to me.
All of this would, on its own, be unsatisfying, but when you add in the fact that - after 100 hours of seeing your party grow and become close friends - your reward is seeing them separated made it all feel even worse. Will they meet again? Maybe. The two cameos of heroes from the previous games likewise seem more or less shoehorned into it, as though to force some kind of connection beyond the amalgam of cosmetic similarities.
Don't get me wrong, I like 85% of the game. The battles are kinetic and fun, and who doesn't like a class system Chapters? Chapters 5 and 6 contained some of the most genuinely incredible and emotive moments that I've ever seen or felt in a game. It's just sad that the climactic highlight occurs closer to mid-game rather than the end - something made worse by the largely samey, generic villains - some of whom come with plot holes the size of TX.
I hope the Wave 4 story DLC ties up some loose ends because - if it doesn't - then, at least in my opinion, XC3 will probably go down as the worst of the 3, at least in terms of story.
Re: Switch Online's Latest N64 Game Is Now Available To Expansion Pack Subscribers
It would be an understatement to say that I'm extraordinarily stoked to finally play one of my favorite N64 games again - and for the first time in close to 25 years. It's going to be like strapping into a flying time machine. Destination: Mid-to-late 1990s. Please remain seated.
Re: Nintendo Expands Its Switch Online Library With Pilotwings 64
This is the second most excited I've been about a game being released this year, being only narrowly eclipsed by that of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
Re: Random: Valve's Latest Steam Deck Trailer Briefly Shows A Switch Emulator
@BloodNinja Imagine going to a Nintendo-centric gaming site just to read the articles that aren't related to the Switch, while at the same time commenting on nearly every story related to the Switch.
Re: Random: Valve's Latest Steam Deck Trailer Briefly Shows A Switch Emulator
That's a surprisingly d ! c k i s h move on the part of Valve. Tasteless af
Re: Random: Oh No, The Internet Thinks Chris Pratt As Mario Sounds Like Linda From Bob's Burgers
@nymbosox Lou Albano.
Re: Random: The Narration On The New Pilotwings 64 Trailer Really Is Something Else
Oh my god, that Barry White voice fits so well with the Pilotwings 64 music. Not gonna lie, I feel seduced. And it's never felt so good.
Re: Random: The Narration On The New Pilotwings 64 Trailer Really Is Something Else
When Nintendo first announced the Wii virtual console, I specifically remember feeling super stoked to play Pilotwings 64 on it, which was lowkey, one of my favorite games on the N64, but the copy for which I'd somehow lost. I remember telling my cousin, rather excitedly, that I would probably get a Wii, day one, if for no other reason, than to play that game again!
Hahahaha! Haha...! Ha...
17 years later. The world has changed so much. Life got so hard. The Wii U failed. The Virtual Console is no longer even a thing. But, Pilot Wings 64 dream survived. I'm going to be honest - I didn't even listen to the video yet. I'm just basking in the glory of a destiny nearly fulfilled.